The MPWC has some tips for Smart Irrigation Month. Remember - using your irrigation system or gardening does increase water usage in the summer months. To help save water on your bill, we are sharing some water conservation tips when watering your lawn. Make sure the direction of your sprinkler covers the lawn and does not waste or spill out of your lawn. Plant shade trees to reduce overall temperatures and reduce water evaporation from soil. Also, it is helpful to keep a true timer when you water so it’s consistent and conservative.

If your water bill is unusually high, but has not be estimated, there are a few things you can do to investigate the situation.  First, check for leaks. Small leaks can add up quickly. Just a 1/8-inch sized leak consumes more than 3,500 gallons per day. While most leaks are easy to find, others may be more difficult and can often be left undetected. Start by checking your toilets. Toilets can lose hundreds of gallons of water when leaking. The MPWC can provide you with special tablets for detecting toilet leaks free of charge. You can also put a few drops of food coloring in your toilet tank and wait a few minutes. If the color shows up in the bowl, you have a leak that needs to be repaired. Check indoor and outdoor faucets and replace worn gaskets and washers. Look for drip stains beneath and behind your dishwasher and washing machines. Check leaks in your sprinkler system, including damaged sprinkler heads.

Thursday, July 4th is a Borough Holiday. Borough offices will be closed and reopen during regular summer hours on Friday, July 5th from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. West side (properties from Center Street westward to West End Avenue) trash collection - bulky items, garbage and recycling - will take place on Saturday, July 6th. Wednesday, July 3rd and 17th are yard waste collection dates for the East side (properties from Center Street eastward to Ivins Avenue) of town, and July 10th and 24th for the West side. You can sign up for Recycle Coach or get the App to receive up-to-date information and notices about municipal trash collection.

Borough Council will vote on replacing a pilot program ordinance for backyard chicken coops with a new ordinance on Monday, 7/8. The ordinance will increase the number of chickens allowed on each permit from four to eight, however roosters will not be permitted. Anyone who is currently licensed to have backyard chickens will keep that license. New licensees will be considered on an individual basis by the Chicken Advisory Board. A total of 25 permits will be allowed and coops must be 10 feet from the property line and no more than 6' high. 

The Office of the Camden County Health Officer has issued a Heat Advisory for Camden County beginning today, July 2, effective from noon until 7 p.m., the advisory will remain in effect during the same period tomorrow, July 3, Thursday, July 4, Friday, July 5, and Saturday, July 6. During a Heat Advisory, the combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a situation in which heat illnesses are possible. “This is going to be long stretch of very hot, very humid weather. It is critical that everyone remember to check on elderly relatives, friends, and neighbors during days like these when there is extreme heat to combat,” said Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services. “When temperatures rise to dangerous levels, remember to stay inside as much as possible, drink plenty of water, and contact a physician if you or a loved one is showing signs of heat stress.”

The Office of the Camden County Health Officer has issued a Heat Advisory for Camden County on June 29th, from noon until 7 p.m. During a Heat Advisory, the combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a situation in which heat illnesses are possible. The latest weather forecast obtained by the health department is calling for hot and humid weather, with peak heat index values between 100 and 104 degrees due to temperatures in the low-to-mid 90s. The Camden County Freeholder Board is once again distributing free fans to Senior Citizens this year. Residents age 60 and older with an income of $25,000 or less are eligible to receive a fan at no cost. To request a fan or to obtain more information, please call the Camden County Division of Senior and Disabled Services at (856) 858-3220.